Red Sox select Wil Dalton with their eighth-round pick

With their eighth round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft the Red Sox took outfielder Wil Dalton out of the University of Florida. The 6'0" Junior out of Spring Hill, TN posted an impressive .847 OPS in 56 games this season for the Gators but saw his overall production dip after a stellar 2018 season. Dalton earned numerous accolades following his 2018 campaign in which he was named All SEC-Second Team and a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy after finishing the year ranked second in the SEC on home runs, RBI, and total bases.

As of right now, Dalton projects as a bat-first outfielder. Some scouts are concerned that he widened his stance this past season and that his power hasn't completely transitioned into game action from batting practice. Though he reduced his strikeout rate this year to just 18.5 percent, some scouts are still wary about the amount of swing-and-miss in his game. Dalton projects as an average corner outfielder on either side.

Prior to his time with the Gators, Dalton was drafted in the 29th-round by the Orioles in 2016 but elected to enroll at Columbia State Junior College where he was named First Team All-TJCAA after hitting .392.

Photo Credit: Wil Dalton by University of Florida Gators

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